Euro 2016: Croatia Shock Spain to Top Group, Turkey Gets Lifeline
Ivan Perisic
scored at the death to give Croatia a 2-1 win over Spain that
condemned the defending European champions to a heavyweight last 16 clash
against Italy.
Spain must now
beat Italy in a rematch of the 2012 final if they are to achieve a record third
successive European Championship title after sliding to defeat against Croatia
in Bordeaux.
Vicente Del
Bosque’s men just needed to avoid defeat to secure top spot in Group D, and
they looked to be cruising towards a last-16 tie with a third-place team from
Group B, E or F when Alvaro Moratta struck in the 7th minute.
Ramos blew a second-half penalty
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But Croatia
showed good spirit despite the absence of injured playmaker Luka Modric, and
Fiorentina striker Nikola Kalinic flicked home an equaliser on the stroke of
halftime.
The tempo dropped
in the second-half before La Roja were offered a penalty when David Silva was
adjudged tripped in the box, but Spain captain Sergio Ramos saw his weak
spot-kick saved by Danijel Subasic, and it cost his side dearly as Perisic
struck a winner three minutes from time to fire Croatia through to the knockout
rounds as group winners.
With Italy
guaranteed to finish top of Group E, Spain will have to beat their old rivals
and then possibly world champions Germany to reach the semifinals.
Elsewhere in
Group D, Turkey beat Czech Republic 2-0 through goals from Burak Yilmaz and
Ozan Tufan, to keep alive their very slim hopes of reaching the next round as
one of four best third-placed teams.
Fatih Terim’s
men now need Sweden and the Republic of Ireland to drop points against Belgium
and Italy in Group E on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland qualified despite losing 1-0 to
Germany
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Meanwhile, Mario
Gomez struck the only goal as Germany recorded a 1-0 victory over Northern
Ireland in Paris to ensure Joachim Loew’s men advance as Group C winners, with
Poland through as runners-up following a 1-0 win over Ukraine.
Even Northern
Ireland became one of the six latest nations through, stealing one of four
spots for the best third placed finishers.
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